 |
 |
|
A day in Qatar.
Doha, Qatar
December, 2002
I arrived in Doha at 6:30 AM, connecting from Bangkok, and my flight didn't leave until 1:30. On the way in I saw that the town was right next to the airport so with a 6 hour layouver I was determined to go out and wander around. When I arrived I first went through security to the transfer desk to check in for my Paris flight. This was a mistake. The guy who checked me in, when I asked him If I could go into town smiled and said something like, "No, I think there is some conference in town and they won't let you in, but you can ask that lady from security," pointing to a lady in the back of the Security Check point. As I approach he I see that she is greeting every person who comes through and telling them which gate they need to go to. She is busy so I walk around the little terminal to access the cituation. To only way to the Visa line (15 US for 14 day visa available upon arrival) is back through the security checkpoint. So I approach one of the security Guards and ask If I can go back through. He points the Head Security guy at the end. This guy has seargent stripes and is manning the xray screen. As soon as the bags stop, I ask if he speaks english and he says, "Yes." I tell him that I want to back through, get a visa and walk around outside for a few hours because I have a 6 hour layover. He looks at me like it seems like a reasonable request and points me to the same lady as the Counter guy. So I approach he and quickly ask her if I could leave between all of the passangers she was greeting. She says "No, you are already on this side," and then starts greeting the passangers and ignores me. I ask her again and she says "I'm sorry I am busy, go talk to the man at the Transfer counter," and brushes me aside. One full circle, but I was determined. I walk back to the transfer desk. I see that the "Important" looking guy at the First Class counter with his dark blue suit and big medaloin is free. So I go and talk to his and he says, "Yes you can leave," and points me to talk to the same lady at the security gate. I say she won't talk to me but cuts me off and says "No, go." So I walk back to her and as soon as I begin to speak she says "Sorry sir, I am busy" and runs over to the next passanger. Her dudy was not that important, there was a giant video screen right behind us that listed all of the gates, but she continued to ignore me. Luckily I could see the guy at the first class counter and I signaled him pointing at the lady and it was obviovs she was ignoring me. I just kept looking at him and shrugging my shoulders. After about 5 minutes of this I walked back over to him and said, "You saw, she was ignoring me." He lookes at me, tightens his lips, and says, Ok, come with me." So we both walk over to the Security Seargent. The shake hands, kiss and begin to speak in Arabic. They talk, look at me, talk, and the counter guy walks over and says, "Let me first go through to be sure they will give you a visa." I think to myself "Yes!" as he walks through the gates with my passport. He was shortly back and all was cool. He escorted me through the gates, we went to an office where they photocopied my passport, he explaind that my checked bag would be placed aside until I returned and showed me to the visa line. That was it. There was only one other minor technicality, when I filled out the viss application I left the "Address in Qatar" line blank since I was only going to be there for a few hours. But that would not fly. The visa secrity guy said I must have an address. I remembered seeing an ad in the airline magazine so I said "Sheriton Grand" and that was the magic word. Minutes later I'm walking out of the airport on to the main street. Everycab at the port was honking and staring at me because I assume that no westerner ever walks from the airport. I just ignored them and kept on my way. It was 8:00 AM and everything seemed to be closed except for this on shop "24 Hour Juice". So I went in, had an OJ and asked if there were any shops open that I could get a Postcard. The pointed me to the Family Bargan Center about 1/2 a mile down the road, but It didn't open until 8:30. Qatar is a flat piece of desert. Walking down the street I would go from Sidewalk, to sand, to sidewake, to sand etc. All the people I passed (not too many, seemed reall nice and all smiled. One guy geting into to his new SUV even offered me a ride, I guess I looked a little lost. There was really nothing going on in the streets. My main problem was that it was Friday, holy day, and most of the shops would not even open at all. On the way to the bargan center I did pass McDonald's, Burger King, KFC and Hardy's. The Bargan center was cool, I got some Fruit, some Lipton Iced Tea, and some water, but they didn't have and post cards. They did have regular cards, birthday, etc. but nothing touristy. The place was like a mini Walmart, everything like Groceries, TV's, Computers, Clothes, kitchen appliances etc; all for about 1/2 the US price. After buying my stuff I asked the cashier where I could get postcards and he said at the Post Office at the Airport. On the way I notice a Cricket game in the Airport Parking Lot. When I got to the Post Office I found out that it doesn't open on Friday until 4:00 PM. Jonesed. I would be gone. With a couple hours left I went over and watched the Cricket game. It was cool. The Sri Lankan outfielder came over and talked to me and he told me all about the game, who was winning and asked me where I was from etc. Very nice guy and the rest of them all smile and were nice too. As we sat there big US Military planes kept taking off and they would point and smile at me. When I returned to the Terminal the Frist Class Counter guy was happy to see me, he shook my hand and said he would get my released. The the lady who constantly ignored me walked up. She looked at me, smiled, and said "I hope you had a nice time in Doha" and she really seemed sincere. I told them that I sax a criket game and the both smiled and brused me aside. What a great day in Qatar!!!
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
